Prevent Cancer Foundation commends 5th Circuit decision partially upholding ACA preventive care mandate

Editor’s Note: The original version of this statement incorrectly stated that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals had invalidated the coverage requirements for cost-free preventive services through the USPSTF for the entire 5th Circuit jurisdiction. This was incorrect. The court decision was invalidated only for the plaintiffs rather than for the entire population as decided by the district court. We strive to provide accurate and timely information, and we regret any confusion this error may have caused.

On Friday, June 21, in a win for cancer prevention and early detection advocates, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in Braidwood v. Becerra that partially reversed a district court decision on preventive services covered by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision says that nationwide, ACA requirements can remain in place that obligate health insurers across the U.S. to cover preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) at no cost to the patient. Rather than invalidating the coverage requirement for the entire population—as had been decided by the district court—the coverage requirement was only invalidated for the plaintiffs involved in the case.

This ruling comes after a precarious period following a March 2023 U.S. District Court decision that threatened to block ACA coverage requirements for any USPSTF recommendations made after March 23, 2010, the date the ACA was enacted. Such a block would have drastically affected access to free preventive care for conditions like cancer, depression, diabetes and HIV. The Biden administration appealed this decision, putting the ruling on hold until the 5th Circuit’s recent verdict.

دولت بایدن به حکم رید اوکانر قاضی منطقه ای ایالات متحده اعتراض کرد و قانون پوشش تا زمان صدور حکم نهایی به حالت تعلیق درآمد.

طبق گفته بنیاد پیشگیری از سرطان، پوشش بیمه ای برای غربالگری های معمول سرطان و سایر خدمات پیشگیرانه حیاتی است. بررسی تشخیص زودهنگام 2024شایع‌ترین دلیلی که بزرگسالان بیمه نشده در غربالگری‌های معمول سرطان خود به‌روز نیستند (یا مطمئن نیستند که آیا به‌روز هستند) ناتوانی در پرداخت هزینه آن است.

“It’s a relief that coverage of preventive care is protected for millions of insured Americans, a significant aspect of ensuring access to essential health services that lead to healthier lives. But this ruling does not guarantee coverage for everyone indefinitely,” said Jody Hoyos, CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “With legal options remaining that could reverse coverage, the Foundation continues to monitor the case to ensure Americans can check their health in an affordable, accessible way.”

این بنیاد امیدوار است که دادگاه عالی با رسیدگی به درخواست تجدیدنظر در این پرونده موافقت کند تا آمریکایی های بیشتری به خدمات پیشگیرانه رایگان دسترسی داشته باشند.

اطمینان از مقرون به صرفه بودن برای دسترسی به غربالگری های نجات جان برای همه ضروری است. غربالگری معمول سرطان می تواند سرطان را زود تشخیص دهد (حتی اگر هیچ نشانه یا علامتی نداشته باشید) و تشخیص زودهنگام سرطان می تواند منجر به نتایج بهتری برای سلامتی شود.

برای کسب اطلاعات در مورد غربالگری سرطان رایگان و کم هزینه به سایت مراجعه کنید preventcancer.org/free.